Machine for packing articles into boxes



Nov. 1, 1932. S 1,886,122

MACHINE FOR PACKING ARTICLES INTO BOXES Filed March 3, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 1, 1932. A. G. ROSE 1,886,122

MACHINEFOR PACKING ARTICLES INTO BOXES Filed March 3, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 1, 1932. A. G. ROSE 1 MACHINE FOR PACKING ARTICLES INTO BOXES Filed March 5, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 1, 1932 insane STATfES -i nrsrr caries ALFRED GERMAN: ROSE, OF'-GAINSBOROUGH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO ROSE BROTHERS (GAINSBOROUGH) LIMIT-ED, OF GAINSBOROUG-H, ENGLAND, A BRITISH COMPANY MACHINE FOR' PACKING ARTICLES INTO BOXES ApplicationfilefMarch 3,' 1931,-Seria1Ila-519,860, and'in Great Britain March 13, 1930.

This invention is'for improvements in or relating to machines for packing articles into boxes or similar receptacles, 'and is chiefly 'c'oncerned'with the provision of improved mechanismswhereby an article may be introduced into a box or other receptacle, the internal dimensions 'of which slightly exceed the exten-al dimensions of the article.

This "invention relates to packing machines *of' the type in which a succession of open boxesand a succession of articles to be placed in then arebrou-ght; one box and one article'at a timeyto a filling station at which an article is supported above the open mouthof a -box by hingedblades which are movable between two positions, a first position'in which 'tlieylie' substantially ina common lior izontahplane above the open mouth ofa boxloc'ated tatrthe filling station and serve to supportan article 'anda second 3OS1tl0I1 -l11 which they lie in substantially vertical planes and constitute Lguides for the insertionof the article into the box.

Tlle 'pl' lllla'ly object of the--priesent inventi'on'is to improve generally and to simplify machines oftheaforesaid kind, and another objecti's to provide means whereby the articles will be guided 'completelyinto the boxes.

"The invention consists in certain novel combinations "and arrangements of parts which will be fully described hereinafter and specifically pointed out in the accompanying claims.

"@nec'enstructi on according to the present invention willnow be described: in detail by way of exam pie with reference 't-o the acinyingklrawingsin which -Frgure 1 is aside elevationof a packing machine according to the present invention,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of themachine shown in Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow, and

Figure 3 is a plan "of the machine shown inFig-ures 1 and 2.

' Throughout this'descri'ption like reference numerals indicate like parts.

The machine'consistsof a framework in which is supported a shaft 11 carrying two sprockets 12-and -13@Around these sprocl rets-two ClIZtiI TCOHVGYOIS 14 and- 15 run,

each chain conveyor carrying a number of pockets 1:6 and 17 respectively. he shaft llxis rotated intermittently by any suitable mechanism such a Geneva stop mechanism to bring the pockets 16 and 1'? in succession to a position directly above the sprockets which position may be termed the filling station. The pockets 16 contain articles or packages 18 and the pockets 1? open mouth boxes. 19. 1 and. 2 that these pockets are so positioned on their chain conveyors that each article or package 18 is supported with its undersurface slightly above the plane of the box mouth 19.

.Above the parallel to the shaft 11 is:a plunger 20 supported in a suitable bear ng 21 on themachine frame 10, and this plunger may. be'reciprocated while the sprockets 12 and 13 are stationary to push that article 18 L which has been brought to the filling station out-of its pock t 16 to a position immediately above the box 19 which is at the filling station. At the oppositeside of the sprockets from the plunger 20 is a-vertical guide 22 on which a rectangular frame or carrier 23 is slidably mounted. Pivotallymounted by means of spindles 2% in bosses 25 on the carrier 23 are two-blades 26. The axes of these spindles 2% are in line with the upper edges of two opposed sides of that box 19 which is presented at the filling station, and the blades are substantially L-shaped as shown in Figure 1. The long arm of the t. in each case extends from theend of its spindle 2% along a side of the box while the short arm of the L (which in fact forms the blade proper and is numbered 126) extencs over the open mouth of the box. This ex-tensionof the blade over the box is shown clearly in Figures 1 and 3. I

. In the position shown in Figure 1, these blades 26 are ho izontal and form supports for that article 18 which, as shown in Figures 2 and 3,.has been moved out of its pocket 16 by the pusher 20 and overthe box 19 at the'filling station. At the end of each spindle 24 remote from the blade 26 is a toothed quadrant 27, and these quadrants are engaged by a double rack 28 which slides vertically it will be observed from Figures lever 32 at its end remote from the cam folv lower 35 is joined by a pivoted link 37 to the double rack 28, while the end of the bell-crank lever 33 remote from the cam follower 36 en gages under the carrier 23. It will be apeciated, therefore, that the carrier 23 and the double rack 28 may be raised and lowered together or separately according to the design of the cams 30 and 31. In the accomanying drawings, the carrier 23 is shown 111 its lowest sition, while the double rack 28 is shown in its highest position. Initial movement of the cam 30, in the directionof the arrow, from the osition shown in Figure 1, causes the dou le rack 28 to be lowered, and this movement swings the blades 26 throu h approximately so that the portions 12% occupy substantially vertical and parallel planes inside that box which is positioned at the filling station, each blade portion 126 being adjacent to one of two opposed sides of the box. In this position, the blade portions 126 serve as guides to guide the aricle 18 positioned above the box into it when the article is forced downwards by a charging plunger 38. This plunger 38 is movable vertically in bearings in the machine frame by means of a cam 39 mounted on a shaft 40 and rotatable in the direction of the arrow shown inFigure 2. A block 41 is rotatably mounted on a pin 42 which projects at right angles to the stem of the plunger 38. This block is slidably engaged in a fork 43 on one end of lever 44. The lever 44 is pivotally mounted on a pin 45 on the machine frame, and is attached to a second lever 46 which carries a cam follower 47 making contact with the cam 39.

Two guide plates 48 are mounted on the carrier 23 above the position at the filling station which is occupied successively by boxes 19 and extend horizontally in parallel and vertical planes from this carrier to that i position at the filling station which is ocoupied successively by the articles 18, and serve to guide each article 18 during its transfer by the pusher 20 from the pocket 16 on to the blades 26 when the latter are in their first or horizontal position.

The various cam followers may be maintained in contact with their respective cams by springs, which are not shown.

The operation of the packing machine is as follows Subsequent rotation of the shaft 29 and cam 30 causes the double rack to be lowered, thus turning the blades 126 into their second or vertical position. At or about the same time thecharglng plunger 38 is lowered-by the cam 39 and presses the article 18 between the blades 126 into the box 19. Immediately afterwards the cams 30 and 31 cause the carrier and the double rack 28 to be lifted together. This movement withdraws the blades 126, while still in their vertical position, from between the article and the sides of the box. The plunger 38 is now raised and at or about the same time the carrier 23 is lowered by the cam 31. The double rack, however, 18 maintained in its raised position and the blades 126 are, therefore, returned to their first or horizontal position. Subsequently, the shaft 11 and the sprocket wheels 12 and 13 are rotated to remove the filled box 19 from the filling station and to feed up a. further article and an empty box. 7

In a modified construction the 'de plates 48 and the portions 126 of the b ades are slotted to give a comb-like eflect there being three teeth (which are of substantial width) and two slots in each guide plate and in the blade associated with it. The guide plates, however, are not mounted on the carrier 23 but are mounted on the machine frame and are thus stationary. The slots and teeth are so arranged that two teeth on each blade portion pass, during the pivotal movement of the blades, through the two slots in the associated guide plate, the third tooth on each blade portion being arranged to swing past that end of the associated guide plate which is near the pusher 20. This arrangement permits the blades to be moved up and down and also swung without fouling thestationary guide plates. If desired in this modified construction the guide plates 48 may be carried on a stationary bracket which serves as a stop against which each article 18 is in turn pushed during its transfer by the pusher 20. a Iclaim:

1. In a packingmachine of the kind in which a succession of open boxes and a succession of articles to be placed in them are brought one box and one article at a time to a filling station at which an article is supported above the open mouth of a box by hinged blades which can be turned into substantially vertical planes to permit the passage of an article between them, the combination of a movable blade-carrier, a plurality'ofblades pivotally mounted thereon to form a horizontaL platform, means for positioning an open box below the blades and an article on theplatform constituted; by the blades, means for turning the blades into substantially vertical positions in which they extend to approximately the bottom of the box so as tocguide thearticle completely into the box, and means for raising the carrier and the, blades inrelation to the box subsequent toisaid insertion and while the blades aresti-ll in their vertical positions to withdraw; them from the box.

2. In a packing machine. ofthenkind in which avsuccession of open. boxes and a succession of articles'to be placed in them are brought one boxiand one article at a time to a filling station at which an article isisupported above the open mouth ofiabox by hinged blades which can be turned into. substantially vertical planes to permit the passageoffan article between them, the combination at the filling station of a movable bladecarrier, a plurality of blades pivotally mounted on it for movement about substantially horizontal axes, means for moving said blades between two positions, a first position in which they lie in substantially horizontal planes and serve to supportan article above the box and a second position in which they lie in substantially vertical planes inside the box and extend to approximately the bottom of thebox soas toguide thearticlecompletely into the box, a charging plunger, means for moving said plunger. towards the box to force the. article into it, means for moving the. blades simultaneously with the charging movementof the plunger-each from its substantially horizontal to its substantially vertical position, and meansfor moving the carrierand the bladesiupwardly with respect .to'the box andsubsequent to the insertion of anarticle into, it to remove the blades from the box. r

3; In a packing machine comprising means for positioning an article over an opentopped container andfor pushing the article down into it, a support platform for thearticle comprisinga plurality of pivoted blades, means tofturn the blades'into substantially vertical positions in which they lie within the container and adjacent to the sides thereof to forms guide for thearticle during its downward movement, the combination of means for, lifting. the blades Vertically from the container subsequent. to the insertion of the article, means for moving them again .to

a horizontal position, and meansfor moving themwhilein the horizontal position down to their original level.

4 In a packing machine comprising means for positioning an article over ,an open topped container and for pushing thearticle down into it, va supportfplatform for the article comprisinga plurality of blades, means to turn the blades into substantially vertical positions in which they lie within the container andw-adjacentto the sides thereof to form a guide for the article during its downward movement, the combination of a bladecarrier on which said blades are pivotally mounted, means for lifting the carrier and the blades vertically in respect of thecontainer subsequent to the insertion of the article,

means for turning the blades again to a horizontal position, and means for moving the carrier and the blades to bring the latter to their original level.

'5. In a packingmachine the combination of an intermittently movable conveyor carryingpockets for open-topped boxes and operable to bring said boxes onev at a time to a charg ng station, a second ntermittently .movable conveyor carrying. pockets for the articles to be packed, means for discharging the articles one after another from the sec-' ondconveyorto apposition in which anarticle so discharged is located above that open box which is at the charging station, a support platform for said article comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted blades, a

movable carrier on which said blades are plvoted, means for turning the blades into substantially vertical positions in which they lie within the box adjacent to the sides there-- of and extend approximately to the bottom of thebox means for forcing the said article down between theblades into the box, means for lifting the carrier vertically to withdraw the blades, and means forturning the blades back to the horizontal position.

, 6. In a packing machine of the kind .in which a succession of open boxes and a suc- .cession of articles to be placedin them are brought one box and one article at a time to a filling station at which an article is sup moving said rack and thus turning the blades into substantially vertical positions in which they extend approximately to the bottom of the box, means for liftingthe blades verticallyfrom the box after the insertion of an article, and means for turning-the toothed quadrants to return thebla'des to a horizontal position. a a Y 7 In a packingmachine of the kind in which a succession of open boxes of less depth than length or width and succession of arp ge x open-topped box below said blades an an article on the blades, means for turning the blades into substantially vertical positions in which they lie within the box adjacent to opposed s1des of it, and extend approximainly to the bottom of the box, means for pushing an article between the blades into the box, means for raising the carrier to lift the blades from the box, means for lowering the carrier, and means operated by the lowering movement of the carrier to return the blades to their original horizontal osition.

8. In a packing machine the com ination of means for positioning an article over an opped box and for pushing the article down into it, a substantially horizontal collapsible support platform for the article above the box comprising two blades pivoted about parallel and substantially horizontal axes, a movable carrier on which said blades are so pivoted, a toothed quadrant attached to each blade, a double rack meshing with the two quadrants and guided for vertical movement in respect to the carrier, means for lowerin the rack independently of the carrier an thus turning said blades into substantially vertical positions in which they lie inside the box adjacent to two opposed sides thereof, means for raising the carrier and rack in unison subsequent to the insertion of the article into the box to withdraw the blades therefrom, and means for lowering the'earrier only to bring the blades back to their horizontal position aforesaid.

In a acking machine the combination of means or positioning an article over an open-topped box and for pushing the article down into it, a substantially horizontal collapsible support platform for the article above the box comprising two blades pivoted about parallel and substantially horizontal axes, a movable carrier on which said blades are sopivoted, a vertical guide track in said carrier, a toothed quadrant attached to each blade, a double rack meshing with the two quadrants and movable in said guide track, means for lowering the rack independently of the carrier and thusturning said blades into substantially vertical positions in which they lie inside the box adjacent to two oppomd sides thereof, means for raising the carrier and rack in unison subsequent to the insertion of the article into the box to withdraw the blades therefrom, and means for lowering the carrier only to bring the blades back to their horizontal position aforesaid.

10. In a packing machine the combination of means for positioning an article over an open-topped boxand for pushing the article down into it, a substantially horizontal collapsible support platform for the article above the box comprising two blades pivoted about parallel and substantially horizontal axes, a vertical pillar, a carrier slidably 'mounted thereon to which carrier said blades are pivoted, a vertical guide track in said carrier a toothed quadrant attached to each blade, a double rack meshing with the two quadrants and movable in said guide track, means for lowering the rack independently of the'carrier and thus turnin said blades into substantially vertical positions in which they lie inside the box adjacent to two opposed sides thereof, means for raising the carrier and rack in unison subsequent to the insertion of the article into the box to withdraw the blades therefrom, and means for lowering the carrier only to bring the blades back to their horizontal position aforesaid.

11. In a packingmachine the combination of means for positioning an article over an open-topped box and for pushing the article down into it, a substantially horizontal collapsible support platform for the article above the box comprising two blades pivoted about parallel and substantially horizontal axes, a movable carrier on which'said blades are so pivoted, a toothed quadrant attached to each blade, a double rack meshing with the two quadrants and guided for vertical movement in respect of the carrier, means for lowering the rack independently of the carrier and thus turning said blades into substantially vertical positions in which they lie inside the box adjacent to two opposed sides thereof, two cams, a follower for each cam, a connection between one follower and the rack, and a connection between the other follower and the carrier, which cams are so shaped as to effect the following sequence of operations:

(a) The lowering of the rack to turn the blades from the horizontal to the vertical,

(b) The lifting of both the carrier and the rack to lift the blades while still in their vertical positions from the interior of the box, and

(0) The lowering of the carrier only to return the blades to their original horizontal position.

12. In a packing machine the combination of a substantially horizontal collapsible support platform, an intermittently movable conveyor for bringing open-topped boxes, one at time to a position beneath said platform, a second intermittently movable conveyor for bringing articles one at a time to a position adjacent to said platform in which position the under-surface of said article is substantially on a level with theplatform, a

movable carrier, two vertically opposed guide plates mounted on the carrier and extending across the platform towards the second conveyor, a pusher for pushing each article in turn from the second conveyor between the guide plates on to the platform, two blades which constitute the platform pivoted about parallel and substantially horizontal axes on the carrier, means for turning the blades each through some 90 into the positions in which they lie within the box adjacent to two opposed sides thereof and extend approximately to the bottom of the box, a charging plunger for forcing the article down between the blades into the boX, means for lifting the carrier and the blades Vertically subsequent to the downward movement of the charging plunger to withdraw the blades from the box and means for restoring said blades to their original horizontal position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALFRED GERMAN ROSE. 

